SOCCER: With the home side looking well set for at least an end-of-season play-off place, I suppose Macc boss David Moss would have settled for this outcome ahead of the trip to Glanford Park.

But again, after another hearty performance in blustery conditions, this was a match that was there for the taking.

The Silkmen responded superbly to the drastic midweek defeat by Hull, and could easily have nicked a victory after an inspired substitution saw Matthew Tipton register his 10th goal of the season barely minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement for Neil Ross.

This was another game that highlighted the fact that there isn't much between sides at the top and the bottom of Division Three. Macc created good chances early and late in the game and surely have something to build on yet again ahead of the crunch home match with Leyton Orient.

The Iron had come off the back of an impressive away victory at Kidderminster the previous weekend, but it was Macc - still sporting a 5-3-2 formation - who opened brightly and almost shocked Brian Laws's promotion-chasers.

An in-swinging corner from Darren Dunning wasn't cleared and the returning Chris Priest saw his crisp shot well blocked by home goalkeeper Tom Evans.

Within a minute, Ross created space on the edge of the Scunthorpe box but disappointingly screwed his shot wide with the goalkeeper in no-mans land.

Kyle Lightbourne looked lively, and he was twice to be denied. First by a crucial last-ditch tackle from Nathan Stanton and then by a smart Evans save.

Scunthorpe eventually rallied and Paul Hayes saw his downward header go inches wide, but they really came to life after a half-time roasting from Laws.

Seven minutes into the second-half they opened the scoring when Peter Beagrie's disputed corner-kick was nodded home at the near post by an unmarked Hayes.

There was to be no repeat of the shocker of the previous Tuesday night though for Macc, Dave Moss's side responded positively and Dunning almost levelled with a curling free-kick from 20 yards.

Lightbourne and Ross both stuck at their tasks gamely and had a chance apiece to square matters, before Ross was replaced on 68 minutes by eager beaver Tipton.

Having now switched back to a 4-4-2 formation and looking much more creative, Tipton was to make an almost immediate impact.

Danny Whitaker found space on the right, his measured through-ball behind the back line found the advancing Tipton who tucked the ball home at the second time of asking after initially being thwarted by Evans.

It was no more than the visitors deserved, but late in the game a winner looked on the cards.

Priest saw his shot deflected wide after Whitaker's initial effort was blocked, and Tipton raced clear in added time but blasted his shot well wide.

On top of that the Silkmen were denied a possible penalty when Tipton was bundled over by Lee Ridley as he bore down on Evans' goal.

More performances like this will surely see Macc safe with a few games to spare.